Chapters 4 - 6

Unit 4: Legal Descriptions

All of the following are basic components of a metes-and-bounds description EXCEPT

• a point of beginning.

• degrees, minutes, and seconds.

• base lines, principal meridians, and townships.

• tangible and intangible monuments.

Answer explanation

The answer is base lines, principal meridians, and townships.

A rectangular survey references principal meridians, townships, and sections while a metes-and-bounds description starts from a point of beginning and references monuments to describe the property.

Unit 4: Legal Descriptions

What does Pennsylvania require for condominium descriptions?

• Plat must show the elevations of floors and ceiling on a vertical plane

• May be used in areas not covered by the rectangular survey system

• Must always use north as the basis for directions

• Must cover an area larger than two acres

Answer explanation

The answer is plat must show the elevations of floors and ceiling on a vertical plane.

Pennsylvania's condominium property acts require that a registered land surveyor prepare a plat showing the elevations of floors and ceilings on a vertical plane and the boundaries of a condominium unit with reference to an official datum. Typically, a separate plat will be prepared for each floor in the condominium building.

Unit 4: Legal Descriptions

Which of these is important to know and understand because it is an integral part of legal descriptions?

• Acre

• All of these

• Section

• Mile

Answer explanation

The answer is all of these.

Land units and measurements are an integral parts of legal descriptions. The acre, mile, and foot are most useful in the metes and bounds descriptions while the rectangular survey system references sections and townships.

Unit 4: Legal Descriptions

Which of the following is MOST likely to be included in a condominium's legal description?

• Subsurface description of the pilings supporting the building

• Description of the other residents in the building

• Location of amenities offered by the building

• Fractional share of the building's common elements

Answer explanation

The answer is fractional share of the building's common elements.

A legal description of a condominium unit references the location of the building, as well as the fractional share of the common elements of the building and land.

Unit 4: Legal Descriptions

Unless the parcel of land is used for agricultural purposes, the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code defines a subdivision as

• two or more lots, tracts, or parcels.

• any community that is planned by licensed engineers.

• at least one dozen lots or homes.

• five or more homesteads that are served by municipal water and sewer.

Answer explanation

The answer is two or more lots, tracts, or parcels.

The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code defines a subdivision as two or more lots, tracts, or parcels, unless it is for agricultural purposes.

Unit 4: Legal Descriptions

Which of these is a method of describing land?

• All of these

• Lot and block (recorded plat)

• Rectangular (or government) survey

• Metes and bounds

Answer explanation

The answer is all of these.

Although each method can be used independently, the methods may be combined in some situations. Some states use only one method; others use all three.

Unit 4: Legal Descriptions

An acre contains _____

• 640 square feet.

• 360 degrees.

• 43,560 square feet.

• 160 square feet.

Answer explanation

The answer is 43,560 square feet.

An acre is an area of land containing 43,560 square feet. A parcel measuring 208.71 feet by 208.71 feet would be a one-acre parcel.

Unit 4: Legal Descriptions

The owner has a large parcel of land surveyed into lots and streets and files a subdivision plat. Each lot can be legally described by use of which of the following?

• Street address

• Metes and bounds

• Government survey

• Lot and block

Answer explanation

The answer is lot and block.

In describing a lot from a recorded subdivision plat, three identifiers are used: lot and block number, name or number of the subdivision plat, and the name of the county and state.

Unit 4: Legal Descriptions

An owner may subdivide the air above the land into ________

• vertical planes.

• cooperative spaces.

• air lots.

• subsurface lots.

Answer explanation

The answer is air lots.

An owner may subdivide the air above the land into air lots, which are composed of airspace within specified boundaries located over a parcel of land.

Unit 4: Legal Descriptions

The lot-and-block (recorded plat) description uses lot and block numbers referred to in

• a spot survey.

• a government survey.

• a plat map.

• a datum.

Answer explanation

The answer is a plat map.

The plat map is filed in the recorder of deeds office in the county where the land is located. The plat map is a map of a town, a section, or a subdivision, indicating the location and boundaries of individual properties.